U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
LaVon Dean Burtis
LaVon Dean Burtis was born in northwest Chase County on April 25, 1925 to George and Neva Kimberling Burtis.
He attended grade school at District 6 and one year at CCHS.
He was the oldest boy of seven children and returned to help on the farm.
Dean served in the U.S. Army from Sept. 15, 1944 to Dec. 3, 1946. He was in the 382nd Infantry Regiment as a machine gunner and served one year and seven months overseas where he was wounded in Okinawa.
He qualified for many awards some included the Pacific Campaign Award, Ribbon Bronze Star, Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation, Philippine Independence Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism to the 96th Infantry Division.
He was a lifetime member of the Deadeye 96th Division WWII Association and attended several of their reunions.
The VA presented him his CCHS diploma Nov. 11, 1999. This was in honor of those who were called and served in WWII.
Dean and Roma Jean Harris were married
Jan. 10, 1948 at the United Methodist Church at Imperial. They celebrated their 57th anniversary. To this union one son LaVern Gene Burtis and one daughter Sylvia Jo were born.
They lived in Grant for five years where Dean had employment with the Co-op. In 1953 they moved to the farm 17 miles northwest of Imperial where he was involved in farming and operated a cow-calf and hog operation.
Dean was a Dekalb seed corn salesman and did electrical work in his spare time.
He retired and moved to Imperial in 2001.
Dean was baptized at the Champion Lake and became a member of the Chase EUB Church in 1937. He transferred to the Grant Methodist Church and later joined the United Methodist Church in Imperial where his commitments and priorities have been. His fellowship in the church was special to him.
Dean was a lifetime member of the VFW which he served a term as commander and also was on the extension board; was chairman of the 4-H Council and organized a 4-H club in our community. He was an active fair board member, served on the District 6 school board, was elected to the Frenchman Valley Co-op Board as well as ASC committee and was a Lions Club member.
He did some woodwork as a hobby and was involved in several carpenter jobs.
He belonged to the CC Stompers Square Dance and enjoyed dancing. Dean learned to play golf after retirement and enjoyed the Senior League at Imperial Country Club. He enjoyed playing pitch with friends.
Dean Burtis passed away Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. He was 80 years old.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert and Hubert Burtis, brothers-in-law Charles Read and Roland Taylor, sister-in-law Maxine Burtis and son-in-law Joel Smith.
Dean is survived by his loving wife Roma Jean of Imperial; a son LaVern Gene Burtis and wife Carolyn of Oberlin, Kan.; a daughter Sylvia Jo Smith of Auburn; four grandchildren Troy Burtis of Nashville, Tenn. and Matthew, Nicole and Meredith Smith of Auburn; three step grandchildren; two sisters Elva Read of Limon, Colo. and Leona Taylor of Sheridan, Wyo.; two brothers Donald of Sheridan, Wyo. and Ralph and wife Lucille of Tracy, Calif.; one sister-in-law Dona June Ekart and husband Jack; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Family and friends join the Burtis family in sharing the loss of their loved one.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and soloists were Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.
Casketbearers were John Osler, Stanley Smith, Merlin Castle, Jack Claney, Larry Schilke and Orville Kunnemann.
Military rites were by the VFW Post #4688, Imperial.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alyce Arterburn
Alyce Louise Arterburn, 80, long-time Chase County resident, registered nurse and community volunteer, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at Chase County Community Hospital, where she had spent most of her nursing career.
Alyce, also known as Shorty, was born to John and Louise (Nitler) Erthum at Sutton, Neb., on June 11, 1925.
She grew up in Ravenna, Neb., and graduated from Ravenna High School before attending St. Francis School of Nursing in Grand Island, where she received her diploma as a registered nurse, an educational path she often encouraged others to take.
She worked as a registered nurse in Grand Island before moving with her friend, Lee Porter, to Imperial where she and Lee met Roley E. Arterburn and Gene Moreland.
Alyce married
Roley on Feb. 1, 1950, in Imperial.
She worked as an RN at the old Chase County Community Hospital, as well as the current hospital facility. She served as nursing director from 1981 until retiring in 1990.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Opal Gray and Eunice Biggs; as well as her only brother, Tommy, who was killed in action in Italy during World War II.
Survivors include her husband, Roley E.; daughter Mary Wintz of Denver, Colo.; and sons, Roley W. of Lamar; John and Cindy of Imperial; and Joe and Cathy of Sidney, Neb.; nine grandchildren, Adam Wintz of Costa Mesa, Calif.; Kate Wintz of San Francisco, Calif.; Carly Arterburn of Hastings; Pete and Lindsey Arterburn of Lake Bluff, Ill.; Paul Arterburn of Topeka, Kan.; Tom Arterburn of Imperial, and Hunter, Jack and Sam Arterburn of Sidney; two sisters, Doris Stubbs of Ravenna and LaVonne Johnson of The Dalles, Ore.
Alyce spent her life helping others-family, friends and patients. She touched thousands of people through her friendship, pervading sense of humor and through her work as an RN, to which she brought professionalism and caring in times of birth, illness and death.
A community volunteer, she served on the Imperial Manor Board of Directors during the planning and construction of Imperial Heights, an achievement for which she was particularly proud.
Her love for her husband, children and grandchildren held first place in her heart.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial with Rev. Murray Schmechel and Rev. Kay Alnor officiating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and soloists were Mr. Ron Moritz and Mrs. Lenore Weatherly.
Casketbearers were Pete Arterburn, Paul Arterburn, Tom Arterburn, Hunter Arterburn, Jack Arterburn, Samuel Arterburn, Carly Arterburn, Adam Wintz and Kate Wintz.
Honorary casketbearers were Gene Moreland, Bob Rolfe, Don Banks, Jack Claney, Averill Hudnall and John Osler.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Alyce Arterburn Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Herbert 'Hoot' Minick
Graveside inurnment services for Herbert "Hoot" Minick will be Monday morning, Oct. 10, 2005, at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope cemetery with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Hoot's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Irvin Beard
Irvin (Toots as he was known) Beard of Champion passed away in the Chase County Hospital Oct. 2, 2005. He was born in Champion June 1, 1909 to Verastus E. and Vera Beard. His mother passed away when he was very young.
V.E. Beard and sons did quite a lot of truck gardening and trapping and served as fur dealers in the 1900's. Toots talked of the many adventures he took with his family in their homemade motor home that they made and lived in while they traveled down through Texas and out to California in the 1920's.
Toots loved the out of doors, and hunting and fishing and trapping were just a few of the things he passed down to his children and grandchildren. Hard work was his middle name, and when he retired from farming you still never would see him without his hoe ready to wreak havoc on any weed that he would pass.
He had many friends that would come from all over and he would take them hunting and then they would eat and play cards late into the night at the Beard cabin on their reservoir west of Champion. Many good times with friends and family were held at the reservoir.
Toots recalled very clearly the year he won the most perfect ear of corn at the Chase County Fair. The Wauneta Falls Bank awarded him 25 dollars, which to him seemed like a fortune. This was at a time when a ranch hand made 10 to 12 dollars a month. The ear was taken to the Wauneta Falls Bank and put on display for several years. Toots told stories of how at fair time they always slept in the hay at the Perry Drapers Livery Barn in Imperial, although most of the nights before the judging was spent guarding the exhibit hall to prevent the stealing of the prize winning watermelons.
Toots talked of how he and a few friends went to Lincoln and met with the Governor and came back to Champion with the Charter to the Champion Men's Club, which is still going strong today and there are only one or two charters left open in the state of Nebraska.
It is written in the Imperial Republican in the 1960's by Harry Andrews just before his death about how the Community of Champion decided to get the road paved from Champion to Highway No. 6. Well according to Harry this job was impossible, so it was given to "the invincible Toots Beard". Long story short, Toots got the job done, the road was completed and Champion put on another of its famed celebrations attended by a huge crowd.
On March 27, 1942, in Ogallala, Toots married
his sweetheart, Helen Josephine Loeffler and the two of them have had 63 happy years together.
Toots was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Irene; brothers, Warren (Coonie) and Leo and a granddaughter, Jennifer Hedgpeth.
Survivors are his wife, Helen; son, Ben and wife, Teri of Champion; daughter, Carole Hedgpeth and husband, Alan of Albuquerque, N.M.; grandson, Brandon of Champion; granddaughters, Shannon and husband, Richard Branting of Lincoln, Melissa and husband, Gregg Farris of Denver, Colo.; three great-granddaughters, two great-grandsons; two nephews, Burton Beard and wife, Vickie of Champion and Floyd Stuteit of Idaho and many friends.
Toots is now where the fishing is always good and all the good ole boys have been holding a chair at the pitch table for him.
Graveside services were held on Oct. 5 at the Lakeside cemetery in Champion with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
Music was provided by Kim Silvester.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Leland Knigge
Leland David Knigge, eldest son of Levi and Pauline Knigge was born April 14, 1934 on a farm west of Alexandria, Neb. and passed from this life Sept. 17, 2005, at his home in Alexandria at the age of 71 years, five months and three days.
Leland was baptized and confirmed on April 3, 1949 at the Presbyterian Church in Alexandria by Rev. Franklin King. He has been a member of Presbyterian Church his entire life.
Leland's early years were spent on the farm and he attended country school, District #30 and graduated from Alexandria High School in 1952.
During his school years, he helped his Dad farm and worked for area farmers bringing his pay home to help his family.
After graduation, he worked for Messman Produce in Strang, Neb. as a route driver. He also joined the Army National Guard at this time. He was called to active duty in 1955. Before being deployed to Germany, he was united in marriage to Elenor (Kay) Hathoway. Two children were born to this union: Douglas and Sandra. Leland served three years in Germany.
Upon returning to civilian life, Leland worked the family farm and also worked for area grain elevators. He was a commercial applicator and continued in this line of work for 50 years working for elevators in Nebraska and Kansas. He also worked for Williams Drilling and went to Saudi Arabia to put up grain bins and install pivots.
After he retired, he still worked for area farmers in the Imperial and Alexandria, Neb. area. He worked for Randy May farm running a potato digger in Texas, Kansas and Nebraska area for many years.
Leland was united in marriage to Patricia Bliss on July 16, 1994 at Keystone, Neb. Leland and Pat spent many happy hours together traveling, camping and enjoying the Sand Hills of Western Nebraska.
They returned to their home town of Alexandria in the year 2000.
Leland was a very active man all of his life joining many organizations and lending a hand to all of them. He was a 4-H leader, Belvidere Fire Chief, a member of the Alexandria Community Club, Officer of the Alexandria Alumni Association, Host at the Alexandria State Lakes, Imperial Eagles Club and a member of the Thayer County Zoning Board to just name a few. He donated his time and talents to each organization many times over.
Of all the things Leland did, he most enjoyed having his grandchildren around him, whether he was taking them for a ride in the tractor or to the lakes to go camping or fishing. He had several who called him grandpa even though they were not related, HE LOVED THEM ALL.
Leland was preceded in death by his parents, Levi and Pauline Knigge and sister, Kathleen Morgan.
Survivors include his wife Patricia; children and step-children and their spouses: Doug and Teresa Knigge, Sandra Knigge, Jim and Lora Bliss, Alice and Curtis Musgrove and Lisa and Allen Meyer; sisters and brothers and their spouses, Donald and Alice Knigge, Wayne and Lois Knigge, Betty Bulin, Wanda and Charles McMillan, Wilma and Gary Luther, Cherie and Ron Domier, Darlene and Lyn Hudson, Marge and Jim Durflinger, Pauline and Bill Disney; brother-in-law Roy Morgan; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were held at the Presbyterian Church in Alexandria on Sept. 21, 2005 with Pastor Lana Likens officiating.
Music was provided by Cherie Domier.
Pallbearers were Rod Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Brandon Lee, Chris Bliss, Matthew Musgrove and Eric Milius.
Honorary pallbearers were Robby Meyer, Michael Musgrove, Blake Johnson, Ken Milius, Leland Weber and Tim Bliss.
Burial was in the Alexandria Cemetery.
George 'Bill' Colton
George W. (Bill) Colton passed away in his sleep Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, in Cottonwood, Ariz. surrounded by his family.
He was born in Easton, Pa. June 5, 1925 to George W. and Ruah H. (Fenn) Colton.
After high school Bill entered the Army where he served with the 104th Infantry Division during WWII and was a recipient of the Bronze Star.
After the war he entered Yale University graduating with a degree in geology.
He worked 28 years with the United States Geological Survey and 16 years for the Arkansas Geological Commission retiring in 1997.
He and Jane Miskimen were married
on April 9, 1952 in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
He is preceded in death by his parents and an infant son.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; 11 children, Jim (Jan) of Cottage Grove, Ore., Ted (Becky) of Flagstaff, Ariz., Doug of Cottonwood, Ariz., Jenny Miller (Kurt) of El Paso, Texas, Kathy Branscum (Rusty) of Batesville, Ark., Matt of Flagstaff, Ariz., Charley (Carla) of Imperial, Neb., Tom (Debby) of Rialto, Calif., Karla Rollins (Jon) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Dwight (Heather) of San Jose, Calif. and Holly Seeders (Mike) of Glendale, Ariz.; 27 grandchildren and six great grandchildren; two brothers, Edward (Merna) Colton and Buster (Kaye) Colton and many nieces and nephews.
Bill was a loving and strong father and grandfather and will be missed deeply.
